Sport

Taylor says net run rate was crucial in Windies win

MUMBAI, India (CMC) - Century-maker Stafanie Taylor says West Indies’ pre-game plan had worked to perfection, following their 209-run annihilation of Sri Lanka on Sunday.

West Indies entered the contest with their chances of qualifying for the Super Six, second round on the line after their loss to hosts India in their opening game last week.

However, the Caribbean side piled up a massive 368 for eight at the Middle Income Group Ground, with Taylor unfurling a career-best 171, to crush the Sri Lankans and roar to the top of Group A.

“Everyone is happy about the way we played to know that we actually did so well in all areas of our game,” she said.

“This was the plan really – to bat first and boost our net run rate. We needed to improve our net run rate and we felt if we batted first, got a decent target of over 350, it would help.

“Things also worked out so well that we able to restrict them to the total we had to keep them under.”

Opening the batting, Taylor anchored key partnerships as West Indies started positively and then further accelerated late in the innings.

Her innings was the third highest in women’s ODIs, behind Australian Belinda Clark’s 229 not out and England's Charlotte Edwards’ 173.

The innings surpassed her previous personal best of 147 against the Netherlands Women three years ago at Potchefstroom in South Africa.

“I think it was a fantastic innings. I wouldn’t say it was my best innings ever but it was fantastic,” the Jamaican noted.

“I got plenty support from the others. Deandra Dottin came in, hit the ball around and got 50 from 22 balls, the two Knights, Kycia and Kyshona, stayed there and our captain Merissa Aguilleira came and finished things off.”

She continued: “I was satisfied that it was not only me that had a good innings but that I was supported by the other players. It was important for me to set a good platform which the team could build upon and it was about us being able to win.

“In order for us to win we needed a big total and in order for us to build a big total we needed a good platform.”

West Indies face England on Tuesday in their final preliminary round match.